32 



THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 



to April, and averages twenty-five inches, varying from fifteen inches 

 in dry seasons to thirty-three inches in very wet years. The following 

 table of the rainfall is taken from the consular reports published in 

 1884: 



Table showing the monthly rainfallin the city of Smyrna, in inches and hundredth^ 



of inches, during the nineteen years ending with 1882. 



Compiled by W. E. STEVENS, Consul at Smyrna. 



As will be _seen j .most of the vineyards are situated within the reach 

 of the seaoreezes, some even being almost on the edge of the waters of 

 the Mediterranean. The best vineyards are those which are situated 

 inland from seven to twenty miles from the coast. The vineyard dis- 

 tricts are all rough and hilly, except those in the Vourla district, 

 which are on comparatively level ground. While some vineyards 

 stretch from the seashore, others reach an elevation of four hundred 

 feet or over. The soil varies with the districts. The best soil for the 

 Sultanas is considered to be hippurite limestone soil, common in some 

 districts. This white, marly soil is in places mixed with a yellow- 

 ocher-colored loam, with sand and gravel. The abundance of the 

 rainfall makes irrigation unnecessary, and no vines are grown with 

 irrigation. 



Care of the Vines. While no general irrigation is needed, the young 

 vines are watered by hand in years of exceptionally light rainfall. 

 The vines are generally grown from - rooted cuttings, which have 

 been planted in trenches the year before. ' Previous to the planting of 

 a vineyard, the soil is dug to the depth of three or four feet. If 

 this can be done the year before planting, it is considered better, as 

 resulting in a quicker and stronger growth of the vines. 



In older vineyards, the vines are set in rows six or seven feet apart, 

 and with three or four feet between the rows. The vines are not grown to 

 standards, but from branching stalks from one to two and a half feet 



